THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 17-year-old boy drowned near the Aruvikkara dam on Monday. According to the police, the dead has been identified as Bipin, a Plus Two student from Vellanad. The incident took place around 4 pm when Bipin, along with five friends, went for a swim in the Karamana River. Bipin, who wandered far into the river, found it difficult to swim back to safety in the strong undercurrents. Despite his friends alerting passers-by without any delay, it took around one hour for the personnel of the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services and other people to recover the body.